i actually like gillette stadium itself- Â as an entertainment/sports complex. Â BUT- Â they are home to the pats, and the place is completely inaccessible- Â basically one way in, one way out- Â so to come here for a game is a very, very, very poor decision- Â unless you want to commit to a 15 hour day. Â This is a very special review tho- Â one ive been waiting a long time to write!! Â This week- Â the nfl has FINALLY done away with the ABSURD tuck rule!!!!!- Â yes the bullshit rule that provided the pats with a FALSE victory over the entire suite of playoff teams that year, including the ripped off rams!!!! Â Look- Â the pats didnt win the game against the raiders; tom brady fumbled the ball. Â They also beat the steelers and rams through cheating, everyone knows that. Â so their super bowl "victory" is invalid- Â no question. Â This rule change completely supports that!!! Â What a great week! Â Probably not enuff of a consolation to the poor raiders, steelers and rams, but at least its an acknowledgement of a total wrongdoing & invalid results. Â The league- Â as annoying as it is sumtimes- Â changes rules when the rules arent fair, arent working, or are absurd, etc.- Â so they clearly got this one right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Â Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review Source:I hate going here, mainly because I'm a Ravens fans, which means I have to deal with the unfriendly Pats fans. Still, I can't knock the stadium. I've sat in the lower level and in the 200 mezzanine section and was happy with both experiences.
I can't understand for the life of me why they have so many 'non-alcoholic' sections, much less why the have non-alcoholic sections in the first place. For what it's worth, I found tickets to be a little cheaper in these sections, and several people around me were drinking anyway.
Another thing I noticed was how many seats they could be filling, but aren't filling because of the giant pillar/players' entrance at one end of the stadium. That empty section would make for lots of good seats in the corner end zone. Instead, Gillette Stadium can only pack in a little under 70,000 fans, and is losing out on a lot of money as a result.
I'd like this place a lot better if it were an enclosed dome and I didn't have to suffer through zero-degree-with-win-chill temps when we went for the last game of the season. My lord does it get cold. So cold that our beers were freezing. The plus side though is that your beer never gets warm and you feel  great pressure to drink it quickly.
Speaking of beer, I appreciated that they had Sam Adams Baltic Porter and a number of regional microbrewery offerings on tap around the stadium, although you have to hunt them down and will pay an arm and a leg for whatever you drink. Oh well, at least I didn't pay for my tickets.
The food options are pretty good compared to some of the stadiums I've been to; I'd recommend the chicken wings and the pulled pork sandwich. But good luck enjoying them when it's freezing out.
Overall, it's a cool stadium and it's cool to see people throwing up snow after a score when the seats are full of said precipitation, but the prices for admission and for food and drink, along with the ridiculous crowds/lines at the booths and in the bathrooms make this stadium the type of place you only want to (or can only afford to) visit once a decade.
Oh, and the parking situation is absurd. My advice, park far, far away at someone's house and walk that long walk, otherwise, you'll spend an eternity stuck in traffic.
I give the stadium a 4.5 for ambience and atmosphere inside. Yes, you are selling body parts to pay for the beers, but having been to a few stadiums, the Kraft family got this one right.
The parking is what knocks it down to a 3. Â I was at the Monday Night game against the Texans, which ended after midnight. Â We fired up the grill after the game because we knew we wouldn't be leaving the parking lot for at least an hour, and we were correct. Â I got home at about 2:30. Â
It's not the team's fault, its just a crappy location with roads that aren't adequate to the task of moving 60+ thousand people in and out of it. Â
The train is a good option, but it often doesn't get back to Boston much earlier than if you drive.
This is a fancy stadium. It has a mall next to the stadium so you can hang out before going to watch the game. It's a smaller stadium than I expected but cool nonetheless. Â I like the display board and the fake fire spiral display. Â The stadium is just a little far from the city and the roads are just 2 laners so there's a lot of traffic.
Review Source:I LOVE the PATRIOTS!! My husband and I drove up from PA to watch them play the Jets. We had been saving for two years for this trip. We'd been to other stadium to see them play, but being there with PATRIOTS fans, enough said!
I love that the game was at 4:15, so we went early, shopped around Patriot place, which is great, because living in PA, you can't find Patriots clothes, you gotta order them online.
Once inside I couldn't stop taking pictures and wondering around. It is a beautiful stadium! Yeah traffic was a mess, but most games traffic is a mess at too.
We are already saving money, not doing anything extra, so we can go back next year!
Everything you expect from a new stadium - clean, great food choices, huge bathrooms, and plenty of beer stands throughout the stadium. Â I have been to about 1/2 dozen games now and I always seem to get crappy weather. Â Can't control that, we live in New England. Â Also, it doesn't seem to get very loud in the stadium. Â Maybe the open end zones? Â I have been to Pittsburgh for a few games and that place literally shakes.
Why not 5 stars? Â The traffic getting to and out of the stadium is an absolute goat screw. Â Although $40 isn't too bad for parking (Lot 7 - right there at Patriot Place), maybe sell prepaid parking like they do at some stadiums.
Being a NY Giants fan I cringed when I found out I had to step foot in this unholy territory. Eventually I sucked it up and came out on a lovely summer day for the Espana vs USA futbol match in the middle of summer. Stadium was nice overall, access to seats was fairly easy and didn't feel like it was miles away. Grounds and stadium were clean and upkept. A couple downsides are the stadium is seemingly in the middle of now where and for being in the boonies traffic was more than ridiculous, at Metlife with the countless access roads and public transportation connections people flow fluidly in more than one sense. Another thing  was the parking lot we were put in was in poor condition, for crying out loud with the $ they rob you for to park there the least they can do is pave that friggin thing.
Review Source:I would love to give Gillette 5 stars for being the home of our New England Patriots, and being an awesome one at that, but unfortunately there are a few things holding me back:
1) Difficult to get to... it is in the middle of nowhere in Foxboro, with a lot of traffic going to and from the game. Attending the game is really a daylong commitment, give the time taken to get in and out of Gillette. Â
2) Parking is expensive... and you have no choice but to drive there given that it is in the middle of nowhere.. and it keeps going up. I go to a game a year and I swear the price to park goes up each time I go there.
3) No giveaways. All the other games I've attended have had some sort of sponsored giveaway.. a beanie (Denver), a cap (Nashville), your digital photo on a lanyard (Nashville and Denver), pompoms (San Diego), etc. Â
That being said, this is a gorgeous, clean, well maintained stadium with a great sound system. Â I like the addition of Patriot Place where you can grab a bite before or after the game. Â Love the food, especially the clam chowder. No healthy options, but I've get to find that at any stadium. At least the junk food is good :P
I also love that even though it's not cheap to go to a game, you find real fans stands, not people who were floated tickets from a corporation and don't care about the game (ahem any sports game in Los Angeles). Â
It's all about the camaraderie, which is better in New England than anywhere else.
Go Pats!
Just went to Country Fest this weekend at Gillette!
I had a great time and I really love seeing shows here. Parking is EXPENSIVE but when you consider that you can tailgate in the parking lot and don't have to spend money at a bar or a restaurant, it pretty much all evens out in the end. The staff was really friendly both in the lot and in the venue and the ticket scanning and everything went really quickly.
The only things that make this venue tough is the traffic and the price of everything inside. Â If you do decide to buy a beer or drink inside, plan on spending at least 13 bucks a drink...overpriced is an understatement! Get there early and bring enough food and drinks for before the show so you can avoid spending your rent money on a warm beer and bring enough for after the show too because you will be in the parking lot forever.
I've been to a few shows here and if you don't want to tailgate, it's probably not worth the traffic, plus you run the risk of not getting to the show in time and missing some of the songs that you paid a pretty penny for! But, if you are willing to spend the day and commit to having a great time, I can pretty much guarantee that you will!
This doesn't have the old charm that my beloved Fenway has, but I still get the warm fuzzies when I think about Gillette.
It's like trading your old car in for a brand new one, you just don't have all the memories with the new one, even if it works better.
What impressed me most about Gillette was the cleanliness. Having been to a few stadiums, Gillette is by far the cleanest. Believe it or not, the lines are SHORTER here than other places. Â Seriously, New England, appreciate how well organized this stadium. Anywhere else, you would be stuck in traffic for 2 hours.
Love me some Patriots. Always.
One of the most entertaining stadiums I have ever attended. I was new to the area, but I was able to find some great information here: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frenaissancepatriotplace.com%2Ffoxborough-area-guide%2Fvisit-gillette-stadium%2Findex.cfm&s=e310f7a5d0dd470bc586e82960fa3ff8c3760bbd4fefd9ccbb7443cda8999213" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://renaissancepatrio…</a> , and then the rest was history.
The atmosphere is un-explainable, and I would recommend this stadium to all football fans.
Wish I could make it 4.5 stars.
I attended a private party at Gillette on a non-game day. Â The entire affair was nearly perfect.
It was fab-u-lous. Â Wisely the Stadium requires parties to use their in-house catering and service staff.
The food was nearly perfect. Â The appetizers alone would have been enough. Â But, no! Â The palm size coconut prawns were perfectly cooked. Â Too often either the shrimp are over cooked or under cooked to allow for the proper coating cook time. Â How ever they did it here BOTH were perfect. Â Rare steak appetizers were exactly that, RARE!!! Â Made me a very happy carnivore. Â Not that I didn't eat the snap pea pod one steak appetizer was wrapped in. Â 'Cause I did:-)
The service staff were professional. Â Always over our shoulders with another full or nearly full tray of appetizers. Â The mezzanine box our party was in was plenty large, huge windows, a beautiful day. Â No doubt that was scheduled, too.
The dinner was the only somewhat imperfect note in a symphony of OMG! Â Parmesean chips, in baskets brimming with various kinds of fresh bread were delish. Â
Admittedly, I don't like fish. So, when I saw both salmon and chicken on my plate I was simultaneously underwhelmed and relieved. Â I do know when fish is good. Â I also trust that fish tastes good when others who I trust tell me it was good. Â And they did. Â My issue was the chicken. Â Bleh. Â I am not a chicken fan either. Â I realize this is a personal issue. Â So, anyone reading this review should take it as such. Â Chicken is all too often seasoned on just the skin, as it was. Â Though, it was moist and properly cooked the skin was the only part of the chicken that had flavor. Â It just didn't thrill me. Â Everyone else seemed to be very happy with everything. Â Polenta, in my book, is over done. Â 'Nuf said. Â I really didn't need the dinner for all the quantity and quality of appetizers.
Desert I do need. Â This was an excellent chocolate torte. Â There was also, an ice cream sundae bar. Â Which I missed. Â Not too much of a bummer because, I was so stuffed that had I not missed it I am pretty sure I would have exploded and ruined the party. Â So, Party ON!!!
There was nothing about this party that did not go incredibly well. Â The bar was well stocked and the servers deftly kept the lines moving. Â The wait staff at every level were fun, alert, and professional.
The dance and DJ crew were excellent. Â Kepth the kdis and adults on their feet, with great music, dance lessons, and games.
All of this perfection only mirrored the perfection of the reason for the party.
The kids even got a tour of the stadium!
Reviewing this as a concert venue and a sports venue (although I know more about concerts than sports).
When you go here to see a concert, the performers will be the size of a fruitfly but they do a good job with simulcast screens and special effects, so you still feel like you're part of the action even if you're in the nosebleed seats. For example the U2 360 tour, with the giant moving pod/amusement-park-ride-looking thing and smoke machines. Going here you know that this is not an intimate venue, but they still manage to put on a good show.
I also came to see the New England Revolution play the L.A. Galaxy and it was fun. Better-than-average stadium food and bathrooms.
The parking, however, is an absolute shitshow. Plan to be sitting in traffic for hours after the time the concert ends, even if you park in one of the offsite lots. There is one small two-lane highway connecting the stadium to Route 95. Why, oh why, doesn't the MBTA run trains down here when there are big events other than Patriots games???
To be clear I am fan of the stadium.....Not the Pats!!! lol. I was in awe of the way the stadium caters to everyone of all ages, that being said, the restrooms are a serious issue that I cant believe hasnt been addressed!!! Not just the line, but the sanitary concerns, there was about an inch of "water" in the bathroom. I stopped drinking after the first trip to the bathroom.
The traffic plan is also a joke!!!! Not sure how people can deal with that!
Home of the New England Patriots and one awesome stadium. Â My bro and I had tons of fun at the Pats vs Dolphins game with plenty of options for sustenance including the usual fare (hot dogs, burgers, nachos, etc.) plus extras like Skipjack's clam chowder and bratwurst. Â If you look around, there are some great craft brew stands serving up some of Berkshire Brewing Company's seasonal beers amongst others. Â Patriot Place is right next door to hang out in case you don't feel like tailgating or want to let the traffic die down a bit post-game before leaving. Â
On that note, the traffic is indeed pretty horrendous as there's only one way in and out. Â With that in mind, plan accordingly as best you can...or just do what I did and kick back with some beer and catch highlights while everyone else slowly clears out =D
Hate to say this but it's true: I am crazy biased about my love for Gillette Stadium because the best football team in the whole wide world plays here. The Patriots. Oh yes.
Tickets are spectacularly expensive, but worth it. I've sat in the lower level, mezzanine, and the upper level and loved my time at all of those games. However, I REALLY wouldn't suggest sitting in the upper level if you are afraid of heights because it gets to a point where it's so steep you may feel like you're going to tumble a few stories. If you happen to find the steepness out the hard way, thankfully standing room only gets great views of the field along the end zones and in the upper decks.
Gillette Stadium is no Lambeau Field in terms of tradition, but I do enjoy the little things that make it the home of the New England Patriots. I love the militia men whenever the Patriots score points, and the Bon Jovi "This is Our House" song.
I also think in terms of Gillette Stadium's design, it's aesthetically pleasing. I think the openness of the stadium allows the crowd noise to travel out for some reason, so I don't think the crowd can pressure the away team as well as if Gillette were a complete dome. What I think they failed at is not implementing some sort of elevator/escalators in their stadium. In this case, the design overruled functionality. It is a hike zig zagging up the ramps to get into higher seats. Hopefully in a renovation they can consider having escalators like most modern stadiums do.
Very lucky to have this wonderful place be the home of my favorite sports team. I will be returning for years to come.
Entering hostile territory is always a risky proposition, but when you are a Jets fan dressed in green for the 2011 AFC Divisional playoff you really have to check your head!
That was me on a cold afternoon in January with a 4 hour drive by myself from New York City, and i loved every second of it.
In all honesty, Gillette Stadium is awesome, it's in the middle of nowhere with one road in and one road out. The sightlines in the lower level are great and the open air feel created by the lighthouse in one endzone is a nice touch
Patriot place is a cool shopping center connected to the stadium, with bars, restaurants, a Qdoba, general shops and more. Patriot place is not inside the stadium so you have to check it out before you go in.
The food inside Gillette is great, all the best seafood you would expect from a place up in New England (clam chowder, clam strips, love it all!)
I'm not going to say a thing about the fans because i want to give this stadium it's proper due. All i'll say is the Jets won that game ;)
The only major issue is the parking. As i said it's a "one way in and one way out" place and getting out is an utter nightmare. If you do not run to your car before the final whistle you will sit in the lot with little movement for at least an hour. Once you get to the main road you will move just fine.
No matter who you root for, i highly suggest paying a visit to Gillette stadium. Mr. Kraft has a fine facility that every football fan should experience.
The stadium itself - once you get in - is decent. There are plenty of bathrooms, plenty of concession stands. The food and beverage pricing is high, but it is high at any stadium. Whatever the justification $11 for a Harpoon is steep, but if you want one you'll pay it - I did.
The seats were great, and one million times wider than those at Fenway.
But my big gripe is the parking situation. Pricing, location, convenience.
I went to last weekend's US v Spain match. Myself and 65,000 other soccer fans. This was my first time at Gillette and I'd like to think that my parking fiasco was a one-off because they did not anticipate a soccer game being as popular as it was, but reading all the other Yelp reviews, I doubt this is the case.
First it takes over two hours to get from downtown Boston to get here. (I laughed later at my gps which said - 25 miles, 32 minutes - ha!) The traffic on the one-road-in was horrendous. When we finally get there the fee to park is $40. Seriously? We are in the middle of bumfuck nowhere and the parking is $40. But what can we do? Nothing, so we pay up and park up.
We grab a couple of beers from the car and start walking to the stadium. I'm not a complete noob and I know we won't be able to take the beers into the stadium, but we are less than half-way there when we are told we have to ditch the beers. WTF? The state trooper didn't look to be in too much of a chatty mood, so I didn't argue the point. I'm guessing it has something to do with crossing the road, and no doubt it is some MA law that you cannot cross a road with a beer in your hand, but come on. Ever heard of footbridges Robert Kraft? Not only will this speed up the walk from your remote parking areas, but guess what, traffic won't have to stop on the street to let pedestrians cross all the time, so people will be able to park faster!
Game was good. Friend wants to leave a few minutes before the end to "beat the traffic", so we get back to the car and literally sit for 90 minutes trying to get out of the parking lot. Hey, here's an idea - why don't you take some of that $40 you charged for parking to pay for people to direct the traffic out of the lots? As the minimum wage is $8 p/h in MA you could get 5 hours of work.
I've been to soccer stadiums all over the world and to football stadiums all over the US with crowds the same size and larger than this and never had to deal with the logistical nightmare that was Gillette.
Oh, and parking - **CASH ONLY!**
The stadium itself is pretty cool. I sat in one of the club sections (C7) for the USA-Spain soccer match, and the seats were perfect.
I just don't get why this place is located in the boonies, and the fact that it's surrounded by a virtual shopping mall (and an unsightly eBay tower) takes away the charm of being located in a rural setting.
But back to the stadium, the club seats were a nice luxury, and it was nice to have access to a lounge section in which to, well, lounge in between halves. I can only imagine the drecky Pats fans hanging in there during a snowstorm.
The pre-game tailgating is also fun, and security officers in the vicinity all seemed pretty mellow and cool.
Still this place is like a giant commercial billboard with a football/soccer field in the middle.
I've had the privilege of going to Gillette Stadium on numerous occasions, whether it be for a Patriots game, a Revolution game, or to walk and shop around Patriot place. But let's ignore the latter and focus on the stadium itself, and not what surrounds it.
For starters, let's talk about the parking situation for football games. There is only one thing that you'll probably remember from going to a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium: traffic is a bitch. With over 68,000 fans packing the place for every single game, it makes for a lot of cars fighting for spots. While they have enough for everyone out there (they have over 16,000 spots), you have to understand that many people are tailgating and that there is significant congestion before and after the games. It is best to arrive early, tailgate and relax, and do the same after the game, weather permitting of course. On the other hand, for Revolution games, due to significantly smaller attendance, parking is a breeze and very easy.
Keep in mind that you don't have to drive in, as the commuter rail has special trains that will shuttle the fans from downtown Boston and many spots along the way. It takes a little while but it makes for a much easier entrance and exit.
As far as the stadium goes, it's absolutely massive and is one of the crown jewels of the National Football League. It was mostly build for the New England Patriots and no expensive was spared. It opened in 2002 and has already witnessed some pretty incredible games and records. Along with football and soccer, it is also the host of many other events, especially CountryFest and other major concerts (U2, Green Day, Jimmy Buffett, etc...)
The stadium is very well designed and even when packed, there is a lot of crowd relief as the aisles within it's interior are wide and they replaced most stairs with ramps which decongested everything. On the downside, the concessions stands are very expensive as is parking, which costs $40 per vehicle during NFL games - It is somehow free for MLS games though as of right now, something that will probably change down the road. The facilities are clean, security does a very good job but there is one major flaw in the stadium: on cold days, there is absolutely nowhere to hide from the elements, unless you're sitting under the overhang. And when I say nowhere, I mean absolutely nowhere, even in the bathrooms. I've sat through Patriots games in five degree windchill and it was absolutely brutal. It's definitely not for everyone.
Overall I feel like Robert Kraft, the owner, has done a very good job in replacing what used to be a terrible, terrible stadium and replacing it with this magnificent stadium. He's also build around it, adding a Hall of Fame dedicated to the Patriots franchise and some stores, restaurants and even a movie theater. That whole area has been revamped and it's for the best really as his vision and the work that has been done there is fantastic.
Gillette is football the way that it should be. Â A New England stadium with an open end on the west to catch the cold Berkshire wind, Gillette isn't a place for the faint of heart.
I come to Gillette once a year, and every time I dress for colder weather than what the weather reports forecast. Â Every time, it ends up being colder than my expectations. Â Every time, my toes turn into icicles, despite my multiple pairs of socks. Â Every time, I take solace in the more intense suffering of the people who listened to the weather reports.
This year, I was lucky enough to witness an interception-fueled Patriot win over a certain choke artist named Manning. Â This isn't Indy, Peyton. Â We don't need artificial crowd noise here. Â So keep having your meetings in the hallways. Â Keep yelling at your teammates for mistakes that you make. Â Keep doing your silly commercials. Â Keep hand picking your coaches. Â Keep racking up your impressive stats.
We'll keep hanging those banners.
I reallly like Gillette Stadium.
I have been to many, many football games here.
Two concerts - Jimmy Buffet and Bon Jovi.
It is clean. It is big.
Every seat has a decent view.
This year they added HD replay screens. Sweet!
LOADS of parking.
And yes, Route 1 is on the list of the worst roads for getting in and out of a stadium. And yes, it is miserable. Sometimes.
I have watched games from seats with many, many vantage points. Nosebleeds, Luxury box (like yesterday's games against the Colts) and each time I enjoy the experience.
Patriot Place is fun and has a lot of options for people. You don't just need to be going to a game to go there.
Nice new
place with
the same
old problems
There's no doubt that the new Gillette Stadium is an impressive place. Built in 2002 it reflects the new technologies and capabilities in stadium building and is a huge improvement over the austere and archaic Schaefer Stadium. Sitting on Schaefer's backless aluminum benches in 10 degree weather was tough for even the most fervent or intoxicated fan.
Gillette has relatively comfy places to plant your butt and there literally isn't a bad seat in the house. No poles or things to obstructed views, the place was obviously well planned and constructed. Huge high def scored boards on either end of the field keep you informed of what's going on in other games and make sure everyone knows if the refs blow a call. Pretty impressive stuff.
However even with all the great improvements and high tech, some old problems typical of stadiums remain. First of all getting in and out of the stadium is a nightmare. They do run some commuter trains but many people like to get there early to shop and tailgate so it's always a mess, especially leaving the stadium. Of course the parking fees are brutal.
Another problem is again typical of most stadiums, the prices of everything is absurd. I realize that the salaries of some of the players are astronomical but eight bucks for a crummy hot chocolate is a travesty,
The last major problem is again typical of just about every large arena or stadium I have been in; the lack of bathrooms. Sure Gillette is much better than the old Schaefer Stadium, that place seemed like it had only two decrepit crappers for 60,000 people. Gillette is much better but still not nearly good enough. Our friend went to the women's room at half time and didn't get back to her seat until the second half was already started. She said she waited a full 25 minutes to use the facilities. A few more low tech crappers in this high tech stadium would be nice.
Gillette is a great place to see a Patriot's game and I suspect it's pretty cool for other events too. Just expect to pay for all these fancy amenities and Corinthian extravagance. I don't know what they can do about the traffic but plan on eating, drinking and using the bathroom before you walk through those gates.
What's actually happening at the stadium is irrelevant if you can't get there. Thus, the stadium is irrelevant to me.
Option 1: Commuter Rail
Runs for only for Patriots games, and along dilapidated tracks that ensure it will never actually travel at a respectable speed. Going to a concert? No mass transit for you! Proceed to Option 2: Highway to Hell
Option 2: Highway to Hell
You might find yourself in a traffic jam of stadium-bound cars on the highway itself long before you reach the actual exit. Then a traffic jam on the oddly low-capacity local roads that probably wouldn't be enough to serve a shopping mall. Then at one of the parking lot entrances. Then the lot itself. The whole process of getting from Boston to the stadium might take up to 3 hours or more. The best part is, you owe THEM $40 for this experience.
Meanwhile, the event has begun, and you haven't even reached the building. Even though you left the city two hours before the opening act took the stage.
Reverse the process when the whole thing is over.
It's just not worth it.
It's not just for football!
Recenty attended a small electrical trade show  put on by Eaton at Gillette. Zipped right in to my free parking space and was greeted at the door by security who guided me directly to the escalator. The show itself was small just a dozen displays or so, but I was impressed with the room which was located on the Club Level - wow!
After checking out all of Eaton's new products - energy management, solar ready distribution panels, etc there was a nice snack bar in the corner as well as a full service bar right there, very casual but professional.
Clean bathrooms right around the corner.
My main purpose for being there was to attend a couple of seminars on emerging markets, energy management. Those were conducted one floor up and we were greeted by a friendly guide yet again. The seating for two hundred was set up in a large airy area, the seats were comfortable for the hour long sessions but I'm not sure if they would have been for longer sessions (hence the four stars).
I would highly recommend Gillette for anyone holding a small to medium sized trade show or series of seminars, it's very user friendly!
Sunday, December 13th, 2009. Â The day I made my first...and definitely not last...visit to Gillette Stadium, to watch the New England Patriots take on the Carolina Panthers. Â As my friend and I got closer, and the familiar "lighthouse" at the end of the stadium came into view, I knew I was home. Â The pinnacle of my trip to New England.
Despite the crush of cars, we got into the stadium lot quickly. Â Only negative was the $40 parking fee - ouch! Â I know you've got to pay for Tom Brady's salary Mr. Kraft, but man, help a fan out. Â Whatever, it's worth it to me. Â Lot attendants guide you to open spots, helping the onslaught of Pats, and scattered Panthers fans (boooo) get squared away. Â Very efficient. Â And even though we arrived early, there were still lots of people set up and tailgating. Â NE fans don't mess around.
Since we had a few hours to go until the gates opened and kickoff, we checked out the Pats' Pro Shop. Â I thought I heard angels singing when I walked in. Â The place is huge, with just about any piece of merch a football fan could ever want, ranging from Patriots shot glasses, to jerseys, to Randy Moss masks. Â Yeah, I did a double-take on the Moss masks too; I love #81, but I don't want to wear a mask of him that looks more appropriate for knocking over a BofA than rooting for the team. Â They weren't very flattering. Â I ended up buying a Jerod Mayo #51 home jersey w/ Patriots 50th Anniversary Patch (same ones they're wearing this season), a couple of Patriots travel mugs, and a sweet Patriots varsity-style wool jacket. Â Stylin'. Â
When the gates opened, a quick patdown by security and ticket check got us into the stadium at lightning speed. Â The place is huge, but laid out very well. Â The concessions are laid out on wide, covered concourses, making it pretty easy to grab a beer, sausage, chowdah, or whatever else you're in the mood for. Â Restrooms were fairly spacious and clean too, all things considered. Â And even though we were on an upper tier, the seats we had were great, with great sightlines of the field and scoreboards.
Overall, no complaints whatsover. Â One of the best stadiums I've been to so far, with the only drawback being the crush when you're trying to leave. Â Quick tip - after a game, go grab a bite to eat at the adjacent Patriots Place to kill some time and allow the lots to empty. Â Still, it's looking like I'll be making an annual pilgrimage to Gillette to root for the Pats. Â And coach B, if you ever need someone to fill in at nose tackle or fullback, give me a call.
GO PATRIOTS!!!
I have been to so many stadiums for concerts and sporting events. Gillette is without question the best. I am not just saying that because I am a die hard Patriots fan. I am saying that because of how the stadium is run. There is always someone around to help and guide you if needed. The bathrooms are always clean and the concessions are always stocked. As far as stadiums are involved this one is without question the best.
Oh Yeah GO PATRIOTS
Before this past Sunday I had seen a few concerts here, the Revolution and World Cup Soccer here but never a Patriot's game. The stadium itself is massive and spectacular to say the least. The staff is all very friendly and the atmosphere is awesome.
I was lucky enough for the Patriot's game to have seats with access to the Fidelity Box which in the snowy, cold day that it was made the experience wonderful instead of miserable which if we had to sit outside I am pretty certain I would have melted.
The view from the Fidelity Box is spectacular and the whole box is filled with bars, tvs and concession stands not to mention really comfortable chairs and couches. They have 2 huge projection screens inside as well as small screens located throughout.
The food and drinks are expensive so we opted to have lunch at the Olive Garden on the Patriot Place property before hand and got nachos and coffee while inside the stadium.
All in all a great experience and one not to miss if you have the opportunity.
-$40 for parking
-Line-up for field access for the concert was in utter chaos, with officials giving conflicting information and causing a near stampede. Actual line-up situation was totally different from the info e-mail sent to me by stadium management via Live Nation. Other venues can work line-ups, why was this such a total disaster?
-It took 2 hours just to exit the parking lot, and another 1.5 hours to get to I-95. Total travel time from the stadium to Brookline: 4 hours.
The horrors of the parking lot were more memorable than the concert.
Never again.
Note: I can't review any of the amenities or facilities. Because the line-up was so badly organized, I had to go 12 hours without a washroom or anything to drink. Other stadiums made the waiting quite comfortable, however, so this is not just a given for rock concert attendance.
After reading the reviews of the place before heading up to catch the Pats play the Falcons today, we decided there was no way we would deal with the parking. Â So we took the commuter rail from South Attleboro ($12 per person round trip) and were very pleased with our experience today (except for the rain). Â The stadium is very well laid out, with wide concourses and plenty of vendors. Â The flow of fans/customers was crowded but never too tight, unlike someplace like Fenway. Â Sure, the food and beers were pricey, but again, I don't think any higher than Fenway. Â Because there are so many food and beer stands there were hardly any lines at any of them when I went for sustenance (again, unlike Fenway). Â The stadium was clean and modern, and the bathrooms weren't too bad.
I would go back if I had tickets to a Pats game and use the train again, but I can see how the parking and getting out would be a total pain. Â I'm not sure I would go to any other event there since the trains are only on for Pats game I think.
Pros:
* It's clean
* there's an overabundance of mall stores that have suddenly sprouted up where the parking used to be. (examples: EMS so you can buy a fleece when you're freezing your ass off. Â victoria's secret for when you lose your bra and underwear in someone's backseat while tailgating)
* you're breathing the same air as Tom Brady
* my favorite Taco Bell is only 3.5 miles up the road
Cons:
- Parking is $40+
- Ticket prices are higher than the kids smoking weed behind me at U2 last night
- Traffic makes rush hour on the SE Expressway look like the Indy 500.
Hey Security,
I guess I should have figured it would be a lousy night when approaching the stadium you start screaming to the group I'm with "VISITING TEAM ONLY. Â MOVE TO THE LEFT. Â I SAID, MOVE TO THE LEFT!"
Oh, sorry. Â We were moving to the left...when there were not cars coming. Â We want NOTHING to do with the visiting Red Bulls soccer team.
And while I am writing this open letter to you, let me just remind you that when my roommate gets punched in the face as a result of an incident she did not provoke, I think it's fair that you don't shove the group she is with (including me) away when we are all standing calmly to the side (or actually walking away) and calling people "dickheads" and "little man".
Really? Â Really now. Â Two people just got arrested, not from our group, and two people from our group got assaulted. Â
And we, the locals, are the problem?
Shut up and take care of the problem, such as the wannabe soccer hooligans standing outside their bus that needs to cart their butts back to New Jersey. Â No one should have gotten punched in the face and no "security" officer should have resorted to name calling.
Way to go.
Yours Truly, Erin M.
Side note:
As for the stadium, it's huge. Â It has to be to support the Patriots so I guess it fits the bill. Â The atrium and concourse feel very barren and unfriendly though. Â Are there any banners that can get put up somewhere? Â There is no sense of spirit or team pride in this place until the team starts playing. Â Liven it up!!
Concession staff seem overwhelmed at Revs games so I don't even want to know what it is like during Patriots games. Â
Prices are ridiculous. Â It's around nine bucks for a beer, four for a terrible coffee. Â Food is bad even for an arena. Â
Signage lacks but bathrooms are ample from what I can tell. Â However, they do not auto-flush and even churches nowadays auto-flush. Â Get with it!
Aside from the size, I was a bit underwhelmed with Gillette. Â I thought it was more of a big deal but it has a very average vibe to it...but you'll go if there's an event you want to see there so take it as it is.
We saw Springsteen here this past weekend. Great venue to see a show, so much better than the old stadium... He sounded amazing... They've added more parking on the opposite side of RT 1, which is great, we were able to park directly across from the stadium ($40.00, BUT people who parked a mile PLUS away paid $35...) We expected to sit in traffic "Tweeter Center" style after the event (HOURS), but much to my surprise, we were out of the show at 12:10 (rain delay) and on the road by 12:25. I was impressed.
Not so impressive? $7.50 BUD LITES ~ugg!~ and TEN DOLLAR Coronas...
Ten dollars. I'm not even kidding... I saw a sign for Patron Margaritas, I'm guessing they were at least $15.00. YIKES!!
I saw my first football game here. NE Patriots (w/ Drew Bledsoe) v. the KC Chiefs.
It was quite the ordeal to get here. My buddy and I made a trial run before game day. Took the commuter rail down from Boston to the train stop and walked the last 3 miles to the stadium. We did not want to miss the game.
Cold as hell. My friend was decked out in KC gear, you know that big red starter jacket. Yeah, we got a lot of flak. Me? I don't know this guy.
The Patriots won the game that night, so we made it out alive.
review 3/14/2008
I.M.Y.
It takes about an hour to get there from Brookline - despite the shots they show of the Boston skyline on TV during games, its not that close.Parking at the stadium is $40.
Tailgating is fun (the parking lots are huge) and there are lots of porta pottys, but the closer to game time you get, the more likely you are going to have to wait in a line. And the person who was flying the plane with the sign that read "Barry Bonds = 756*, Bill Belichick = 3 Super Bowl rings*," you are my new hero.
As for the fans, well, there are a few bad apples. Yes, I know I am decked in black and gold and waving a Terrible Towel - that still doesn't give you any right to say "I hate the Steelers" or "Steelers Suck" in my face. Screw you. And the "Can I borrow your Terrible Towel to go to the bathroom?" joke is old. Despite the silly white washcloths handed out at the gate to Pats fans, there were a ton of Terrible Towels in the crowd. The majority of fans were nice and we had some good natured fun going on.
We had Standing Room only seats, and there are lots of great views, despite having to stand. Everything looks a lot smaller when you are there, the lighthouse and bridge isn't as big as it seems to be. A beer is $7.50, make sure you get your drink on in the parking lot, your wallet will thank you.
It took 2 hours to get back - an hour of stop and go to get out of the parking lot. Listening to post-game radio, many people were complaining about the huge number of Steeler fans. Its a well known fact that we travel well and the radio guys defended our right to see the game. Turns out they were from Pittsburgh and admitted their hearts were with the Steelers. Nice, the Pats radio guys are Steeler fans.
I had fun, see you in January.
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